Cuomo, The Preacher Man (Updated)

Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., one of the few lawmakers who hasn’t been shy about publicly voicing his criticism of Gov. Andrew Cuomo (and pretty much anyone else – and there are many – with whom he disagrees), had some rare words of praise for his fellow Democrat after the governor delivered his second State of the State address yesterday.

“He’s a good preacher; he preaches better than I do,” a jovial Diaz Sr. said. “He should become a rabbi or a priest or something.”

Since Cuomo is an Italian Catholic, becoming a rabbi would be a real trick. Diaz Sr., as you’ll recall, is a Pentecostal minister.

In reviewing Cuomo’s speech, the Bronx lawmaker also managed to get in a dig at another fellow elected official he often singles out for criticism: Mayor Bloomberg.

“Education, I hope, I honestly say this, I hope that he could do better than Bloomberg because what he said today he’s going to do, Bloomberg said that he was going to do that,” the senator said. And Bloomberg was a fiasco in education. So I hope that Governor Cuomo means what he said and that our children will finally, finally our children will get someone to defend them.”

UPDATE: Now that he has had more time to think about Cuomo’s speech, Diaz Sr. has apparently found more he doesn’t like. He released a statement expressing his “ardent” disagreement with the governor’s call to expand casino gambling in the state and also to expand the statewide DNA database to include anyone convicted of a felony or penal law misdemeanor. (Specifically, Cuomo said he wants NY to become the first state to collect DMA on “all crimes”).

“Governor Cuomo has already legalized gay marriage,” Diaz Sr. said. “Now he wants to legalize casino gambling. What’s next – legalizing prostitution and marijuana and drugs – all in good ‘faith’ to make money to raise tax revenues for the State?”

The senator’s full statement appears after the jump.

“Although I may be the lone voice crying in the wilderness, I need to publicly and ardently disagree with New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and his plans to call for an amendment to the State Constitution to legalize casino gambling,” Diaz Sr. said. “I also need to express my strong opposition to his proposal in his State of the State Address to build a DNA databank of samples taken from criminal defendants in New York State.

“Like the rest of us, Governor Cuomo must know that by legalizing casino gambling, gambling addiction will increase and more and more families and children will suffer. Rent will not get paid. Food will not be on the table. In a State where poverty levels have increased, gambling revenues will not draw from expendable income but from families’ necessities. ”

“Instead of helping the many New Yorkers who already suffer from gambling addiction, this amendment will only continue to destroy their worlds and further exploit vulnerable and poor New Yorkers and their families.”

“Governor Cuomo has already legalized gay marriage. Now he wants to legalize casino gambling. What’s next – legalizing prostitution and marijuana and drugs – all in good ‘faith’ to make money to raise tax revenues for the State?”

“In regard to Governor Cuomo’s hopes to build the DNA database, he must be aware of the racial injustice that exists within New York’s prison system. It is unsettling how on one hand, the Governor says that he opposes harsh fingerprinting requirements for families who need food stamps, and on the other hand, he wants to expand the DNA databank samples of criminal defendants. The racial imbalance targeted by both of these rules is clear, and the disregard of civil liberties and privacy protection laws and the implications it gives to the authorities is also clear.”

“To some, Governor Cuomo may seem to be unstoppable, but I do not see him as our economic savior. I see him as quite the opposite.”